Fantasia (Fantasia Barrino album)

Fantasia is the eponymous second studio album by American recording artist Fantasia Barrino, released by J Records on December 12, 2006. In its first week of sales, Fantasia entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number nineteen, with 133,000 copies sold.[1] In June 2007, Fantasia was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies.[2]

Fantasia
Studio album by
Fantasia Barrino
ReleasedDecember 12, 2006
Recorded2006
Genre
Length50:08
Label
Producer
Fantasia Barrino chronology
Free Yourself
(2004)		 Fantasia
(2006)		 Back to Me
(2010)
Singles from Fantasia
  1. "Hood Boy"
    Released: November 25, 2006
  2. "When I See U"
    Released: April 17, 2007
  3. "Only One U"
    Released: June 29, 2007

Background and recording

Missy Elliott returned as one of the writers on the album, joining Big Boi of Outkast and Diane Warren as contributors. Production duo Midi Mafia, best known for their 50 Cent hit "21 Questions", also contributed five tracks to the project.[3]

The beat for "Baby Makin' Hips" was created by Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry, new producers working under the guidance of Dre & Vidal, producers of Ludacris' song "War with God". Her second single "When I See U" peaked at number thirty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number-one for eight weeks on the Urban charts. The music video for When I See U was shot by Lenny Bass on March 26, in Brooklyn.

Critical response
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[5]
PopMatters(7/10)[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Slant[8]
StylusB+[9]

Critical response to Fantasia was largely positive, as reviewers praised her vocals and charisma as well as the album's production; she drew multiple comparisons to Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Patti LaBelle.[10][11][12] Rolling Stone magazine said the album "expands her range, adds some attitude and comes up with some genuine R&B gems."[10] Allmusic found it "a bolder, better album than Free Yourself," adding that it "breaks Barrino free of her American Idol persona, giving her a sound and style that she can build a career upon."[12] PopMatters.com said that "Fantasia is a solid second effort, made above average by that gem of a voice."[13] Many critics also commented that the album's decidedly R&B nature (which translates to a reduced audience) was inevitable due to the lack of crossover success from Barrino's debut.[11][12] Thomas Inskeep with Stylus magazine praised Fantasia's "rather astounding, multi-octave...voice, capable of the smoothest singing but also heavy on the grit," while at the same time lamenting that she will never be "America’s pop star...She’s too black." He then declared, "Fantasia wasn't meant to be America's pop star, anyway."[11] Sal Cinquemani with Slant Magazine said that "Fantasia's sophomore effort isn't exactly her Breakaway [Kelly Clarkson's hugely successful second album], but it's certainly a more unified artistic statement than 2004's Free Yourself."[14]

On December 6, 2007, Fantasia garnered three 50th Annual Grammy Award nominations: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “When I See U”, Best Contemporary R&B Album for Fantasia, and Best R&B Song for "When I See U".

Commercial performance

Fantasia peaked at number nineteen on US Billboard 200 albums chart.[15] It sold 133,000 copies in its first week and sold a total of 530,000 copies in the United States.[16] It was certified Gold by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[17] It also peaked at number two on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[18]

The first single from the album, "Hood Boy", peaked at number three on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and number twenty-one on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The second single, "When I See U", peaked at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third single, "Only One U", peaked at number nineteen on the US Adult R&B Airplay chart and number thirty-six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hood Boy" (featuring Big Boi)
Tone Mason3:34
2."When I See U"
3:37
3."I Nominate U"
Dre & Vidal4:34
4."Baby Makin' Hips"
  • Davis
  • Vidal
  • Muhammed
  • Nelson
  • Dre & Vidal
  • Dirty Harry
  • Don Cheegio[a]
3:21
5."Not the Way I Do"Sean Garrett
3:35
6."Only One U"
Cox4:00
7."I Feel Beautiful"Diane WarrenBabyface3:33
8."I'm Not That Type"Missy Elliott
4:07
9."Uneligible"
  • Muhammad
  • Nelson
Danja3:00
10."Two Weeks Notice"
  • Elliott
  • Brockman[a]
4:42
11."Surround U"
Swizz Beatz3:19
12."Bore Me (Yawn)" (featuring Ricco Barrino)
  • Muhammad
  • Nelson
Danja2:55
13."Sunshine"Harold Lilly
3:47
14."Bump What Ya Friends Say" (featuring Missy Elliott)
  • Elliott
  • Phillip Lees
4:44
Total length:50:08
Wal-Mart bonus download
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Girl like Me"
Dre & Vidal4:20
Total length:54:28

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies co-producer

Sample credits

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[23] Gold 500,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Unreleased tracks
  • "Turn This Party Up" (featuring Missy Elliott)
  • "Clap Ya Hands" (featuring Missy Elliott)
  • "Broke"
  • "Solo (So Low)"
  • "Said I Wouldn't (No More)"
  • "No Stoppin'" (produced by Missy Elliott, also recorded by Monica)
  • "Let It Go" (featuring Missy Elliott, re-recorded by Keyshia Cole and Lil' Kim)

References
  1. Jonathan Cohen, "Young Jeezy, Hicks Enter Atop The Billboard 200", Billboard.com, December 20, 2006.
  2. RIAA Archived 2011-05-21 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Fantasia First Listen – AOL Music
  4. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r938935
  7. "link". Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2006.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. link
  10. Serpick, Evan (December 7, 2006). "Fantasia" RollingStone.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  11. Inskeep, Thomas (2007-01-02). "Fantasia" StylusMagazine.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  12. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2006). "Fantasia" AllMusic.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  13. Joseph, Mike (January 5, 2007). "Fantasia" PopMatters.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  14. Cinquemani, Sal (2006). "Fantasia" SlantMagazine.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  15. http://www.billboard.com/artist/1496871/Fantasia/chart?f=305
  16. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956754/fantasia-moves-forward-despite-personal-challenges
  17. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=fantasia#search_section
  18. http://www.billboard.com/artist/1496871/Fantasia/chart?f=333
  19. "Fantasia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  20. "Fantasia Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  21. "2007 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  22. "2007 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  23. "American album certifications – Fantasia – Fantasia". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 23, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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